Blair
Serena, Georgina, Ivy, Sage, and me walked up the stairs in Thompson Hotel together.
A slideshow was playing.
Serena looked back at me before walking off.
Bart
"Bart, hey." It was Serena.
I turned to face her.
"My Mom wanted me to tell you she's so sorry she can't be here to celebrate your accomplishments."
"Oh, well, all this does seem rather impressive, doesn't it?"
Serena nodded her head.
"Yeah."
"Hey. Maybe you can show her the slideshow when she returns." She suggested, pointing at the projector.
"I'm sure she'd love to see your travels." Serena pointed out.
I was confused when I saw the picture of Amira and me in it.
"Is everything okay?"
"I... Don't remember approving that slide."
"Well, obviously someone likes it."
She chuckled.
"Obviously, there's a glitch in the system. If you'll excuse me."
Serena nodded her head.
I walked away from her.
Serena
I smirked as Bart walked away.
I was at the Bar.
Bart
I stopped near the screen.
"Have you gotten this evening's program?" It was Georgina.
"You look even more dashing in it than you do in person." She pointed out.
Georgina handed it to me.
"Well, at least they followed my instructions regarding this part of the presentation."
"Tell me the truth- Do you trade on your good looks to get all your adoring donors?" She questioned.
"How did you get Lady Alexander to give so much and twice on Sundays?" Georgina questioned, opening the program.
I looked around us.
"I bet she really put you through your paces."
"Did you give this to anyone else?"
"No."
I crumpled the program up.
"Oh. Unless you count everybody here."
"Whatever it is you're trying to pull... I'm putting a stop to it."
I walked away from her.
I snatched the programs from two people.
My phone rang.
I pulled it out.
The caller ID said "Bruce Kaplan."
I looked around.
Sage
"Great job on stealing the dead guy's phone." Blair complimented.
"Now, just keep calling Bart until he cracks." She instructed.
I nodded my head.
"I'm gonna start phase two."
Serena
"Yeah..."
I was chatting with a friend.
"Serena, there you are." It was Dan.
I turned around.
"Dan, what are you doing here?" I questioned.
"Oh, wait! I forgot. You're honoring your new mentor, Bart Bass." I answered my own question.
"If you'll excuse me, I need to be anywhere but here." I apologized to my friend.
"Just tell me if you are really leaving town." Dan told me, following me.
"What do you care? You can just as easily write despicable things about me from afar."
"I know you're mad but that chapter's not the only thing I've written about you. The- The most flattering things I've written about anyone have been about you too."
"Oh, okay. That was five years ago. Since then, I've been the empty-headed Blonde in "Inside" and- And the golden girl with Daddy issues in "Inside Out." I pointed out.
"Your writing changed and so did you." I pointed out the obvious.
"That's no reason to leave your entire world behind."
"My world turned you from a person with integrity into a cruel satirist. I mean, you're worse than Gossip Girl. At least, she has a conscience."
He chewed his lip.
"No matter what it looks like, I'm still on your side, Serena. I always have been."
"Yeah, well, excuse me if I don't wait around to be disappointed again." I retorted.
Dan sighed.
"I'm moving to LA. Just as soon as I'm done helping Blair with Bart. Which... You should be doing too but you're on his side." I answered his original question.
I walked pass Dan.
Bart
"Hire more staff if you have to. I will not be embarrassed at my own party." I told the coordinator.
She nodded her head.
The coordinator walked off.
"Excuse me, sir. Would you like a cocktail?"
It was Ivy.
"We have a lovely Sudanese Vodka."
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm just a waitress trying to serve you a drink which you look like you could use."
I took the glass from her.
Ivy had also handed me the envelope that the microfilm was in.
"Lily destroyed what was inside of this already."
"Or did I make copies?" She questioned.
"You never know which one of these has what you're looking for." Ivy held up four more envelopes.
I took them from her.
I drank the Sudanese Vodka.
I put the glass back on the tray Ivy was carrying.
Ivy
I smirked as Bart walked off.
Bart
My phone rang again.
"Bart?" It was Blair.
I turned around.
"There you are."
"Perhaps you remember my very special guest, Iman Hassan." She introduced Iman.
"You did some oil dealings with her father."
"It's lovely to see you, Iman." I greeted.
"Although. I never did any business with your father. We were simply good friends."
"Who shared a love of horses." Iman added.
"Yes, that's right. How is her dear Lady Alexander living out her days at your horse farm?"
"Grazing away happily, I should think."
"I know what you did to my horse." Iman told me.
"Did you murder my father too?" She questioned.
I glanced over at Blair.
"I loved your father like a brother."
Iman rolled her eyes.
My phone rang again.
It said it was from "Bruce Kaplan" again.
"If you'll excuse us, Iman, we need a moment."
"Oh, tell security where I am. I wouldn't want to go mysteriously missing."
I grabbed Blair's arm.
I dropped my phone in a fish tank.
We walked backstage.
"I know what you're trying to do with the envelopes and the phony phone calls. I've seen "A Christmas Carol."
"The classic tale of misdeeds haunting a man who didn't remedy them."
"You know, I've always felt that Scrooge was unfairly maligned. He simply expected people to act like adults."
"And in other news..."
"There is no Santa Claus, Ms. Waldorf."
"Operated by Bass Industries."
Blair
I turned my attention to the computer.
"The G2 was reported missing off the coast of Maine."
"Wait. Turn that up."
"Sure."
The sound guy turned it up.
"The Coast Guard is investigating the area where the plane went off the radar after sending a mayday signal."
"Oh, no. I hope that wasn't the one Chuck was on."
I looked up at Bart.
"At present, there was no communication from the plane. A search and rescue operation is currently underway to identify victims."
He turned around to face me.
Bart
"Good evening. My name is Jason Pomeranc and I'm the chairman and founder of Thompson Hotels. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to New York Real Estate's Man Of The Year award."
The crowd clapped.
I smirked at Blair.
"That's my cue."
I left her alone backstage.
Blair
"The exact number of passengers aboard the plane is still uncertain."
I stepped closer to the computer.
"We'll bring you more information as it becomes available."
Serena came up behind me.
She placed her hand on my shoulder.
"And in other news..."
Bart
"Bart Bass has been a boon to Manhattan's skyline."
A camera flashed as a reporter took a picture.
"To truly introduce him properly it's my honor to present the number one chronicler of Manhattan's Elite: Mr. Daniel Humphrey."
Daniel walked up onstage.
The crowd clapped.
He stood at the podium.
"I would like to introduce an icon of New York real estate and a pillar of our community. He is the center of the Bass family and is a personal inspiration to me."
I smiled.
"Please welcome... Charles Bass."
The crowd clapped.
I was surprised.
Chuck walked up on stage.
I masked my surprise.
Blair and Serena came out from backstage.
He was at the podium.
"Thank you. Thank you."
They quieted down with their applause.
"My father is being honored here as humanitarian but the last time I checked humanitarians value human life..."
I looked down.
"And he just tried to have his own son killed." Chuck blurted out, pointing at me.
I looked up at him.
"Isn't that why you look so surprised? You put me on that plane to die?"
The chattering continued.
Two Security guards grabbed Chuck.
The cameras clicked as he was led away.
Gossip Girl
"Looks like Chuck found the emergency exit at 10,000 feet. Let's hope he can avoid going six feet under... Again."
Bart
I walked up onstage.
I stood at the podium.
I looked at Daniel in the crowd.
"I would like to apologize for my son's outburst. As many of you here know he has long struggled with substance abuse."
Blair shook her head.
"I have already contacted the Pedowitz Institute and I can only hope that he will accept the help that he so desperately needs."
Georgina narrowed her eyes.
"Please, let's not let him ruin this otherwise festive evening. Thank you, everybody."
The crowd clapped.
I walked offstage.
I found Daniel in the crowd.
"I overestimated you."
I stood in front of him.
"You're just lucky that security is getting Chuck home to his suite before he can do anymore damage."
I walked away from Daniel.
I walked pass Serena and Blair.
Blair
Serena walked away.
Humphrey approached me.
"At least, you know Chuck's okay."
"I still despise you. But thank you for doing the right thing for once."
I started to walk away.
"Wait a second, wait a second. Do you know where Serena went?"
"Why would I tell you even if I did? So, you can con her into falling in love with you and humiliate her again?"
"No. I was hoping after my speech that maybe she would change her mind about me and about leaving town."
"I really hope that you're referring to a vacation spot too elite for the likes of you." I retorted.
"No. I'm talking about LA for good."
I stared at him.
"I retract everything civil I just said. This is all your fault. If Serena moves away, I will never forgive you, Humphrey."
I walked away from Humphrey.
Bart
I was examining a model of a skyscraper.
"And thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much."
I shook hands with two people.
Nate and Howard approached me.
"Let me guess. Prison overcrowding? Or... Did they let the both of you out on good behavior?" I questioned.
"My son never should've been behind bars in the first place." Howard answered.
"But look at how the two of you have bonded over it. So, you're welcome."
"Okay. You've had your fun. Now, what will it take for you to get your name off my loan document, so I can own my paper again?"
"See, that's the problem with this generation. They're so entitled. They don't even say "Please."
"Nate worked his ass off to build that paper. He never asked you to co-sign for him and he's not asking for charity now. We'll pay whatever it's worth." Howard told me.
"A million dollars."
"Done."
"I'm kidding. It's not for sale. The amount of enjoyment I plan on getting watching Nate squirm? Priceless."
"Come on, Bart. Don't do this to my kid."
"Enjoy yourselves tonight, Archibalds. Drinks are on me."
I walked away from them.
Blair
I was looking for Serena.
I encountered her as she was walking down the stairs.
"Please tell me that you are heading home to get a good night's sleep after a trying day and not picking up your bags and going to the airport."
"I'm sorry, Blair. You know I'm terrible at goodbyes."
"Well, I won't let you say one now." I told Serena.
"I know that things are bad but they're never as bad as you think. You were the one who taught me that." I informed her.
"Do you remember Junior year, when I was standing out on that helipad, ready to flee to Europe after my "Who's the Daddy?" pregnancy scandal?"
"And you weren't even pregnant."
We both chuckled.
"You know, we can laugh about it now because... You didn't let me go. You told me that the scandal always passes and so will Dan's expose."
"Not as long as I live here. In Los Angeles, no one cares if I date the wrong guy. I mean, they don't care about anything I do. I have the chance to reinvent myself."
"Reinvention is for starlets from trailer parks who want to be you."
Serena raised her eyebrows.
"Seriously. Do you know how few friendships make it out of High School? We finally got to the good part. You can't leave now."
"But you were the one that said we're better when we have our own territories." She pointed out.
"Remember Paris? Right bank, left bank?" Serena reminded me.
"Well, then move to the West Side and we'll meet in Central Park! And when we do, there will be enough light for both of us to shine."
She shook her head.
"Yeah, but I'd still be living in my own shadow. I have to go."
"But... There's no Sarabeth's in LA. Or Serendipity... Or me."
Serena gazed at me.
"Please just think about it."
We hugged.
She walked around me.
I was calling Chuck again.
"Leave a message and I'll listen to it."
"Hey, it's me. Why aren't you answering your phone?"
I hung up.
Chuck
I was on the roof.
I had my phone in my hand.
I had the call history up.
Blair's name was the only one on it.
I put my phone down to my side when I heard footsteps.
It was Bart.
"Thank you for waiting."
"I had no choice. Your guards... Locked me out."
"I wanted for us to have a chance to talk privately."
I stared at him.
My phone beeped as I was recording Bart.
"You know, I knew you were cold and ruthless but I never thought you'd try to kill your own son."
"We had a deal. Your friend is out of Jail. You were supposed to be on a plane to Russia."
"You never intended for me to make it to Moscow. You arranged for the Pilot to parachute to safety while I was left to die on the plane."
He walked closer to me.
"You have always had a wonderfully vivid imagination."
I looked down at my phone.
Bart snatched it out of my hand.
"But I warned you earlier... Accidents can happen."
Georgina
"We should work together more often. I'm just over-coddling creative types. There's a whole untapped niche in schemers for hire." I told Sage and Ivy.
Blair
"Have you seen Chuck?" I questioned, joining Georgina, Ivy, and Sage.
Serena was still roaming around here.
"Bart said the security took him home, but I called Nate."
I pulled my black coat on.
"Chuck's not there and he's not answering his phone."
"Well, he's here somewhere. He hasn't left the building." Ivy informed.
"How do you know?" I questioned.
"The security guards at the exits are under strict instructions to inform us of all Bass departures." Georgina answered.
"I have my ways of ensuring their loyalty." She told me.
I rolled my eyes.
"Where's Bart?"
"Last time I saw him, he was getting on the elevator." Sage answered.
I headed over to the elevator.
The elevators were taking forever.
"Oh!"
I eyed the elevator assistant.
"Garcon, where are the stairs? The elevators are taking forever."
He pointed to the stairs.
Chuck
"Tell me... Did you try to have me killed because you hate me so much or because I know too much?"
Bart shook his head.
"You know, no matter how hard I have tried to turn you into a man, it still remains the one big failure of my life."
"You're not a man. A man accepts responsibility for his actions. A man takes care of his family. A man doesn't pay a mother to abandon her child and then tell that child his mother is dead. A man doesn't try to have his own son killed!"
He glanced down for a moment.
"But you can tell the Police what kind of a man you are."
"Your naïveté is adorable."
Bart shoved me.
"Even if I didn't have the Police commissioner in my pocket, who do you think they're gonna believe? Huh? The man of the year..."
He shoved me again.
"Or some sad, pathetic, little boy?"
I was near the edge.
Bart grunted as I punched him in the face.
He lunged at me.
I stepped aside.
You heard a scream as Bart fell off the roof.
It was Blair.
He had grabbed onto the railing.
"Chuck..."
Bart was losing his grip.
"Give me your hand."
He tightened his grip.
"You know I'm all talk. I would never really hurt you."
"Everything you say is a lie!"
"Charles, this isn't who you are."
Bart was losing his grip.
"Please, son."
The door opened.
Bart
"Enough." It was Serena.
She grabbed my hand.
Serena pulled me up.
"Mom would be disappointed in you."
"Me?! What about this-"
"Chuck."
"Lily hates you, by the way. That's the real reason she's not here. Lily is scared of you."
"Let's go."
She pushed me in front of her.
"You think this blonde is gonna be able to stop me?'
"Chuck."
He backed off.
"Yeah. That's what I thought. Let it go."
"Come on."
We walked in together.
